Eugene feabl



E. PEARL.

CRUTCH.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 7. 19IB.

Patented July '29, 1919.

[no-valor EUGENE PEARL, or new you, n. Y.

GRUTCH.

Application flied October 7, 1918. Serial No. 257,085.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE PEARL, a citizen of the United States,residin at New York city, in the county of New ork and State of NewYork, have invented new and useful Improvements in Crutches, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in implements for supporting thelame and assistin their locomotion, nown generally as crutc es.

The principal object of the invention is to produce a crutch in whichthe head or arm rest is engaged with the stafi' in such a manner as tobe limitedly longitudinally movable relative thereto, cushioningelements being interposed in the joints therebetween to soften theeffect of the constantly alternating pressure and relaxation of'theparts when walking.

A further object is to produce a structure which can be shortened at anytime, in an easy and convenient manner and without detrimentallyefiecting its operation or appearance.

These and other like objects are attained by the novel construction andcombination of parts hereinafter described and shown in the accompanyingdrawings forming a material part of this disclosure, and inWhich- Figure1 is a side view of the upper part of a crutch made in accordance withthe invention, parts being broken away to show the construction. r

Fig. 2 is a top Fi 3 is a side elevational crutc head.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken through thecenterof the crutch head, the same showing the parts at the be ginning of aforward step.

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view showing the parts as positioned at thetermination of a step.

plan view of the same.

view of the Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the connectin element usedto unite the head and staff e ements, and

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of a complete crutch drawn to areduced scale.

The head or arm rest of a crutch is most im ortant, if of proper form,length, width and curvature, and highly polished with varnish or coatedwith celluloid, nearl all friction against the clothing is avoiedpreventing wear of the same and the annoyance caused by under garmentsadjacent to Specification 01. Letters Patent.

t e body,

Patented July 29, 1919.

the arm pit heating and chafing, thereby eliminating much discomfort.

The arm piece, being entirely independent of the crutch upri hts orstaffs, adjusts itself to a considerable legree to the various positionsof the crutch necessary in sustaining the body when walking, when thecrutch is placed forward, the front sprin receiving the principalweight, yields as t e body is carried forward, the Wei ht beingtransferred to the rear sprin w ich is then compressed. A cushion c actis the result,- without causing the curved surface of the arm piece tochange its form when supporting the body, which would be the result ifthe arm piece were padded or upholstered, a condition that has beenfound most im practical on account of its constant change of surfacewhen in use and under pressure, causing clothin wear, friction, heatingand chafing of the ody.

A crutch to be'comfortable, should not be too rigid, but so constructedthat it will 5 ring or yield to the various positions of made necessarywhen. walking. This improved construction permits the crutch parts toadapt themselves fully to the swaying of the body.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, a pair of stafl's orside members 10, having curved converging lower elements 11, connectedbya band 12, extend down to a ferrule 14, connecting a resilient terminalor foot 15, preferably of rubber and ada ted to make contact with thesurface over w ich the user is passing in such manner as to partiallcushion the step and to avoid slip mg.

T ese staffs are firmly united by a and iece 17, at a point-midway intheir length, itsexact location relative to the point of support beingdetermined by the length of the arm of the user by means hereinafterdescribed.

The main portions 10 and 11 of the staif may be oval, round, or of anypreferred cross section, but the upper portions 18 are preferablycylindrical, like dowels, for several inches, as are also the combinedbottoms adjacent to the ferrule 14, thus allowin the ends to be reducedin length so as to bring the hand 'ps 17 into proper position, enablingstandard lengths of crutches to be carried in stock and adjusted whensold to meet requirements, by merely cuttin the upper elements so as tobring the ban e at a convenient distance from the head and reducing theremaining excessive length by shortenm the cylindrical part adjacent tothe ferrufie.

The head 20, is formed with a con are upper surface, reduced in width atthe si cs 21 an rerided with ba e est nsidns 22 and 2%, respectively atthe front and rear,

so as to conform to the 042m it; this head is highly finished andprefera ly coated With celluloid as best adapted to resist perspirationand moisture, amrl'to provide a smooth surfiaee to contact with thegarments.

The lower surface 24 is arpuately recessed between a, pair of bosses orextensions 25, each ooutaining pa-radlel ieyilindrically bored openings-26 suited to Iclosely hut slidahly receiwe the upper ends 18 of thestaflr's, which are coated when entered, with a solid lubricant, as tajlow.

spirally 'wonnd eompression springs 28, suited to the Weight of theuser, are interposed betaiveen the bottoms of the openings 26, and thesquarely cu-t ends of the stalls, as shorvn in F s'. 1 and 4, thesesprings providing a. desira ile cushioning efii'eqt and also rmmtting aswaying effect, as can be seen 8; comparing Figs. it and 5, the stafl'sbeing limiiedly msiiient in a lateral dlnectzion.

Secnlrhd to the lower concave surface 24 of the head is a metal strap30, held firmly in position by screws 31, their exten ends 32 containingslots :88, th-ro whic pass other schews 84, engaging in V e inner sidesogE time stafls, thus permitting a rocking movement to take placewithout reiaxatioh or loosening of die parts, or the strap ends may beof thin resilient material always under tensiilm against sthifs whenpiessune is app ied can \Yariions moyements of the head. l

From the foregoing it will be seen that a neat appeal" and easilyoperating crutch has been .dise 0e11, th is can he .used with entire andsa shy, and due to the absence of loose parts, no squashing, rattle, orother occurs when iiseql.

an s! t ea: re st new be ma m d qr fir; ma cam, by ma man: m

set said stafl's,

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A crutch comprised of a pair of support staffs spaced in their upperends, a head recessed to slidab-ly receive the ends of said sta s,compression springs in said recesses afiainst which the upper ends ofsaid staffs a ut, an arcuately bent strap fixedly secured to the lowerside of said head at its center, and insane for securin thedownwardlextending ends of sai strap to the inner sides of said staffs, saidsecuring means permittina limited longitudinal movement of sai stafi'sand maintaining said springs normally in all initially compressed condi-2. A crutch comprised of a pair of support stafls spaced at theiroyhndrical upper ends, a head bored to slidably receive the ends ofsaidstaiff, eompqession springs in said bored openings against which theupper ends of said stafi's abut, a metallic strap suited to the bottomof said head, means for fastening said strap to said head, ends formedwith said strap extending downward closely adjacent to said staifl,slots in said ends, and screws passing through said slots into saidstraps holding said springs in compression and permitting a limitedindependent movement of said head relative to each of said staffs.

A crutch comprised of a pair of stafis, a head receptive of the tops ofsaid staffs, compression erlements in said head against which said topshear, a U shaped metal strap with said head, and securing means passinthrough slots formed in said strep where y a rocking motion of said headon said stazfls is permitted and also a limited relaitine movementtherebetween. i

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification. i

EUGENE PEARL.

fimmmnfl 01' ir ant W ns 1 -43

